Machine tool



Feb. 9, 1943. H. N. STEPHAN MACHINE TJOL I Filed June 12, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENI'OR Y m-qs l7. STEP/mu ATTORNEY 5 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 MACHINE TOOL Hallie N. Stephan, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to TheLncas Machine Tool Company, Bratenahl, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application June 12, 1840, Serial No. 340,143

11 Claims. (01. 17-3) The present invention relates to electrically actuated or controlled means for shifting or moving machine parts, such as the movable element or elements of a sliding gear speed change transmission, or the movable element of a clutch, and to machine tools especially horizontal boring machines embodying such mechanism.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of novel electrically actuated or controlled mechanism for moving or shifting a movable member, such as the movable element or elements of a sliding gear speed change transmission or the movable element of a clutch, etc., which mechanism. will be reliable, positive, and comparatively silent in operation and which will not subject the various parts to undue shock and strain, etc. 1

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel electrically operated or controlled mechanism including a solenoid for engaging devices, such as change gears, clutches, and the like, wherein the initial relative movement between the members is efiected by relatively low power and concluded by relatively high power.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel machine tool such as a horizontal boring machine, comprising a power transmission device or a disengageable drive connection such as a sliding gear speed change transmission or a clutch, either friction or positive drive, and including electrically operated or controlled mechanism for moving the movable element or elements thereof to engage the device, which means will be reliable and positive in operation and will not subject the machine or parts thereof to undue shock, stress, etc.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel electrically operated or controlled means for shifting a movable device suchas a change gear into either of three normal positions.

The present invention resides in certain details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art to'which the invention relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts and in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a horizontal boring and milling machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the diagrammatic view of a speed change transmission of the horizontal boring machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the pendant control station:

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the spindle head, table, and saddle feed and rapid traverse transmission of the horizontal boring machine shown in Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of Fig. ishowing' the parts in a different operating position.

While the present invention is susceptible of general application, it is particularly applicable to electrically controlled machine tools such as the pendant controlled horizontial boring machine shown in U. S. Patent to Lucas et al. No.

2,208,312, issued July 16, 1940, on an application SerialNo. 254,437, filed February 3, 193a, and is herein shown and described as embodied in 'such a machine. Only those parts of the machine which are necessary to an understanding of the present invention are herein shown and described in detail. 0

' Referring to the drawings, the machine .shown therein comprises a base A provided at one end with a spindle head column 3 having vertical ways Iii and ii on the front face thereof, upon which ways a spindle head C is mounted for vertical movement. At the other end of the base port column is slidably supported on horizontal ways l2 and is formed on the upper side of the ,bed. The ways i2 and I3 also have slidably supported thereon a. saddle E, the upper side of which is provided with horizontal ways which in turn support a work table F. A backrest block G is slidably supported for movement along vertical ways formed on the backrest column. The spindle head C which is counterbalanced by a weight (not shown) is adapted to be moved ver- .tically along the ways l0 and Ii by a lead screw [8 rotatably supported in the base A and the spindle head column B and having threaded engagement with a nut fixed in the spindle head. The spindle designated generally by the reference character l9,.in addition to being rotatable in opposite directions, is movable inopposite directions longitudinally of its axis to effect both feeding and rapid traversing movements.

The speed and direction of rotation of the spindle, etc., and the different movements of the various elements such as the feed and rapid traverse of the spindle, head, saddle, table, etc., areperformed by power and their operation may be controlled from any convenient place about the machine. In the embodiment of the invention shown, five electric motors are employed to perform the various movements or operations as follows: a reversible motor (not shown) commonly referred to as the feed and rapid traverse motor supported on the bed within a guard 22 adjacent to the left-hand end of the machine; a reversible main driving motor 23 arranged for ceiling mounting, also enclosed within the guard 22; a spindle rapid traverse, reversible motor (not shown) mounted on the head C; a reversible motor I 4 for clamping and releasing the backrest block; and a reversible motor (not shown) for moving the backrest column D.

The main driving motor 23 is connected to the spindle rotating and feeding mechanism, and the spindle reversible motor actuates the rapid traverse for the tool spindle. The feed and rapid traverse motor 2i is connected to the saddle and table feeding and rapid traversing mechanism and to the spindle head and backrest raising and lowering mechanism. The motors are adapted to be selectively connected to the various operating elements through the medium of suitable speed change transmissions, shafts, gears, clutches, etc., the controls for which are located on or adjacent to the base A, spindle head C, and/or pendant electric control station H fixed to the lower end of a pipe 25 connected to a universally movable arm 26 by a flexible cable 21.

The spindle i9 is adapted to be rotated at various rates of speed by the main driving reversible motor 23 through the medium of speed change gearing designated generally by the reference character-P housed in a suitable gear box supported in the bed of the machine; a vertical the medium of a V-belt drive 2i2' connected to a small pulley 60 fixed to the rotor shaft of the motor 23 and a larger pulley 2|6 fixed to a shaft 2 I 5 which latter shaft is in turn operatively connected to the driven shaft 2| l by gears 2 Hand 2 l4 fixed to the aforesaid shafts and continuously in mesh with each other. The shaft 2 carries a three-gear clutch 220 slidably splined thereto, the three gears of which, designated 0|, 62, and 63, are adapted to selectively engage gears 84, 65, and 66, respectively. The gear 84 is one of a two-gear cluster 228 fixed to a shaft 224 rotatably supported in the speed change gear box in the base of the machine, as are the other shafts of the gear box, and the gears 65 and 66 are part of the three-gear cluster 222 also fixed to the shaft 224. The speed change transmission P, as shown, also comprises a splined shaft 2I'I rotatabl'y supported in the gear box 209 and operatively connected to the lower end of the vertical shaft 2 I0 by bevel gears H8 and 2"]. The splined shaft 2 carries a three-gear cluster 22I slidably splined thereon, the gears 61, 68 and 69 of which are adapted to selectively mesh with gears 10, 64 and H, respectively. The gear 10 forms a part of the two-gear cluster 228, and the gear ll forms a part of the three-gear cluster 222 both shaft 2| 0, the lower end of which is rotatably of the present invention, the various positions of the gear clusters 220 and 22i are controlled by electric means from a remote point. As shown in the preferred embodiment, the position of the gear clusters is controlled by electric switches II and 16 located on the pendant control station H which includes numerous other switches for controlling other operations of the machine. The mechanisms for shifting and/or controlling the positioning of the gear clusters 220 and 22! are identical and only the mechanism employed for shifting and/or controlling the positioning of gear cluster 22i is shown in the drawings and will be herein described.

The yoke member 226 through the medium of which the gear cluster 22! is moved or maintained in any position, is carried by a rod l1 slidably'supported in the speed change gear box 209-. The rod 11 and the yoke member 228 are continuously urged to a position where the gears 64 and 68 of the clusters 223 and 22i, respectively, are in mesh, which position will be hereinafter referred to as the first or intermediate position, by resilient springs I8 and I8 surrounding the rod I1 and engaging opposite sides of the yoke member 228. Opposite ends of the springs 78 and I9 engage the yoke member 220 and the sides of the gear box 209. Alternatively the intermediate position may be a neutral disengaged position, and other suitable abutments may be provided for the springs 18 and 19. The rod TI is adapted to be shifted or moved towards the right, as viewed in Fig.52, to disengage the gears 64 and 68 and engage the gears 08 and H by an electric solenoid 80 which, when energized, pulls the rod 11 towards the right.

Energization of the solenoid 80 is under control of the manually operable switch I8 located 82, and reactance 83 to L--2. The effective ampere turns of the solenoid 80 are comparatively low because of the reactance 83 and the rod II is moved towards the right under comparatively low power against the resistance of the spring 19, which at the beginning of the movement of the rod TI is comparatively weak. The initial movement of the rod 11 towards the right is at a comparatively slow rate of speed but substantially coincident with or shortly after engagement of the teeth of the gear 88 with the teeth of the gear H. The ampere turns of the solenoid 80 are increased by the engagement of the armature 85 of the solenoid 80 with a member 86 pivotally supported on the solenoid and operatively connected to a bell crank 81 provided with a movable contact 88 which causes said. contact 88 to engage stationary contacts 88 and '90 operthe rod 1'! when the resistance of the spring 10 is comparatively high. The lower power which effects the initial movement of the rod 11 is such that it is not sufiicient to cause the teeth of the gears to engage with sufficient force to,injure the same as would be the case if the full power of the solenoid 80 was initially applied. When the switch 15 is returned-to its oi! position, that is the position marked "2, as shown in Fig. 3, the gear cluster 32! is returned to its first or intermediate position, that is the position shown in the drawings, under the action of the spring I9.

The power of the solenoid 80 can be varied, as is well known in the art. and the initial or low power relation to the high power can be varied by changing the ampere turns of the solenoid as by substituting reactances of different value for the reactance 83. Alternatively a variable reactance may be used or the reactance replaced or supplemented by a resistance either fixed or variable. If desired, the ampere turns of the solenoid 89 may be gradually increased as the resistance of the spring 18 builds up by gradually reducing the impedance or resistance of the solenoid circuit in accordance with the movement of the rod 11. One embodiment of mechanism suitable for carrying out such an operation is shown in Fig. 4 and will be hereinafter described.

When it is desired to shift the gear cluster Hi to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to disengage the gears 64 and 6B and engage the gears 61 and 10, the switch 15 is turned to its lefthand position, that is the position marked 1 in Fig. 3. This establishes a circuit from the line L-i, through the switch 15, wire 9|, solenoid 92, wire 93, and reactance 94 to L-2, causing the solenoid 92 to move the rod towards the left under lower power against the resistance of the spring I8. At a predetermined point, as previously explained with reference to movement of the same gear cluster towards the right, substantially coincident with or shortly after the engagement of the teeth of the gear 61 with the teeth of the gear 19, the armature 95 of the. solenoid 92 engages a member 98 pivotally supported on the solenoid and operatively connected to a bell crank 91 causing the movable contact 99 thereon to engage stationary contacts 99 and 100 and short out the reactance 94, whereupon full current and voltage is applied to the solenoid 92 to complete the meshing of the gears 61 and it.

When the switch it isretum'ed to the position marked 2, that is to its off position, the gear cluster 22l is returned to its intermediate position by the spring 18. The mechanism disclosed for moving the gear cluster in one direction is the same as that employed for moving the cluster in the opposite direction and any of the remarks made with .reference to one mechanism is equally applicable to the other. Suitable steps may be provided for limiting the movement of the rod 11 and a spring-pressed detent engageable within a recess in the rod 11 may be employed to help position and maintain the gear cluster in any one of its three positions if desired. In the event that sucha detent is employed to maintain the gear cluster in its intermediate position, the electric circuit can be so arranged that the movement is initiated at high power, after which it continues at low power I until the teeth of the gear being meshed engage each other after which it is further continued inganysimilarmachineelementorpart.such

reversing or one-way drive clutches of the positive drive type having engaging teeth or of the friction type having 8118 8 8 friction surfaces.

The particular mechanism heretofore described,

is especiall applied to shifting gears and reversing clutches of the positive drive type having engaging teeth while they preferred mechanism for engaging a-frictlon clutch will be presently referred to.

In operating friction clutches. it is desirable to engage the friction surfaces lightly at first and gradually increase the pressure therebetween so that the'load can be picked up gradually and without shock. This is especially true when the friction is employed to impart a rapid traverse movement to a machine element, such as the head, saddle, table, etc.. of a horizontal boring machine, the table of a milling machine, and the like. The present invention in addition to the several features heretofore mentioned contemplates the provision of a friction clutch including a solenoid for engaging the same and with means for increasing, preferably gradually, the ampere turns of the solenoid in accordance with the movement of the friction surfaces or elements towards each other.

Figs. 4 and 5 cf the drawings show the present invention embodied in mechanism for imparting a rapid traverse movement to the spindle head, saddle, or table of the horizontal boring machine shown in Fig. 1. I

The reference character J designates generally a speed change transmission through the medium ating mechanisms are adapted to be selectively again at high power. Whether or not it is neceseifected by the connected is adapted to be driven in either direction depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor 2! from the gear 3'! at either a comparatively low feed rate through the transmission J and an overrunning clutch mechanism K or at a high rapid traverse rate through a normally disengaged disc clutch L, shaft 38 and overrunning clutch mechanism K.

- The feed change gears are housed within a suitable gear box in the base of the machine and will not be further described. Suflice it to say that the various movable gears are adapted to be shifted as desired by manual levers I31 and operatively connected thereto in a suitable manner. With the friction clutch L disenga ed. the drive is through the transmission J and from the driven gear 44 thereof to the gear 45 forming a part of the overrunning clutch mechanism K. The gear 45 is rotatably supported on the shaft 34 and carries the driving element 46 of a normally engaged toothed clutch, the driven element 41 of which is splined on the left-hand end of the shaft 34 and has a plurality of sloping teeth or cam surfaces 48 formed on the lefthand end which cooperate with similar teeth 49 on a high speed driving member 50 fixed to the right-hand end of a high speed shaft 38.. The driven clutch element 41 is continuously urged towards the left by a compression spring Si interposed therebetween and the gear 45. The construction is such that the shaft 34 is normally connected to the transmission J through the normally engaged clutch elements 48 and 41 and the gears 44 and 45.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the shaft 38 rotates at the same speed as the gear 45 and the members 41, 34, etc., due to the engagement of the teeth 48 and 49. When the friction clutch L is engaged, the shaft 38 is caused to rotate at a higher rate of speed than the shaft 34, etc. This difference in speed causes the teeth 48 of the slidable clutch ele ment 41 to climb the teeth d9 of the element 50, moving the clutch element 4'? to the right, disengaging the teeth tl thereof from the teeth 46' of the driving clutch element 46 carried by the gear &5. After the clutch 436, 41 is disengaged, the shaft 3t. rotates at the same high speed as the shaft 38 since the teeth'dli drive the teeth is of the member Movement of the member s? towards the right is limited by the compression spring iii so that the teeth 48 and d9 will i always be in engagement with each other, the construction of which spring is such that it will not permit the teeth 48 and $9 to clear each other and become disengaged. As shown, both sides of the teeth E8 and 49 are inclined in the same manner, which makes the device operable in either direction of rotation. When the clutch Lis' disengaged, the spring 5| reengages the teeth of the cooperating clutch elements 48 and 49, thus reestablishing the low speed feed drive through the transmission J.

The actuation of the friction clutch L is controlled by a bell crank lever 42 pivotally supported in the base of the machine, one arm of which is operatively connected to the clutch L through a member 43 slidable on the shaft 38. The other arm of the bell crank lever 42 s connected to the armature of the solenoid 4| and to a spring I02. The spring I02 continuously urges the bell crank lever 42 in a direction to disengage the clutch L and the lever is adapted to be rocked in the opposite direction about its pivot I03 by-the solenoid H which, when energized, moves the armature I 0| in a downward direction. Energization of the solenoid 4I maybe controlled in any convenient manner through the wires 559 and I04. Preferably it is controlled in a manner similar to that disclosed in a copending application bearing Serial No. 243,616. According to the present invention. when line voltage is applied to the wires 55!! and I04, the maximum ampere turns or power of the solenoid 4| is not immediately applied to the clutch L because of a variable resistance I04 connected in series with the solenoid. However, as the discs of the friction clutch L engage each other as the result of downward'movement of the armature IOI oi the solenoid 4|, the resistance I04 is gradually cut out by the moving contact arm I05 which forms one arm of a bell crank lever pivoted on the solenoid case, another arm I08 of which is connected to the armature IN. The construction is such that the clutch L does not grab but is lightly engaged at first with the result that the clutch slips and picks up the load gradually. As the load is picked up, the clutch is engaged with increasing pressure until all slip is eliminated.

In the embodiment shown, the resistance I04 is entirely out out at a predetermined point in the movement of the clutch elements together.

increased in steps instead of gradually. As shown, the two stationary contacts I08 and I0! connected to the wire I04 and the wire H0 lead-.

ing from the movable contact arm I05 and the resistance I04, respectively, are adapted to be short circuited or connected together at a predetermined point in the movement of the clutch elements together by a movable contact III car ried by one arm of a bell crank lever II2 pivoted as at II3 on a member fixed to the solenoid 4|. The other arm of the bell crank lever II'Z carries a screw II5 adapted to be raised by a lever III connected to the levers I05 and I00 and move the contact III into engagement with the contacts I 08 and I09. The place at which the contact III engages the contacts I08 and I09 relative to the position oi. the movable clutch element can be varied by adjusting the screw III. A spring -I I? interposed between the washer I I8 on the screw I I5 which engages the arm H6 and the head of the screw allows the arm III; to continue its movement after the contacts are closed for reasons which are thought to be obvious.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that a novel and improved mechanism including a solenoid has been provided for moving a movable element and that there has been provided a novel and improved machine tool, particularly a: horizontal boring machine comprising remote control mechanism including a solenoid for shifting various ,machine elements thereof, such as change gears,

clutches and the like. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described with considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction shown which may be varied within the scope of this invention. It is my intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a horizontal boring machine of the character referred to, the combination of a frame comprising a base provided with a vertical column adjacent to one end thereof, a spindle head member supported for vertical movement along said column, a spindle member supported in said spindle head member, a saddle member movably supported on said base, a table member movably' supported on saidsaddle member, means for moving one of said members, said means including a power transmitting device having an engageable and disengageable drive connection comprising a movable member for engaging and disengaging the drive, means including a. solenoid for moving the movable member of said drive connection to engage said drive connection, and means including mechanism responsive to the movement 01' said movable member of said drive connection for I automatically increasing the ampere turns of said This feature of the invention may or may not solenoid as said movable member or said drive connection is moved in a direction to engage said drive connection.

2. In a horizontal boring machine of the character referred to, the combination 'of a frame comprising a base provided with a vertical column adjacent to one end thereof, a spindle head member supported for vertical movement along said column, a spindle member supported in said spindle head member, .a saddle member movably supported on said base, a table member movably supported on said saddle member, means for moving one of said members, said means including a power transmission having engageable and disengageable members, a pendant control station movably supported on said frame for universal movement, means including a solenoid for producing relative movement between the movable members of said power transmission in a direction to engage said drive connection, a manually operable switch on said pendant control station for controlling the energization of said solenoid, and means including mechanism responsive to the movement of said movable member of said drive connection for automatically increasing the ampere turns of said solenoid as said movable solenoid as said slidable member is moved in a direction to engage said drive connection.

4. In a power transmitting device or the like, the combination of engageable and disengageable toothed members, means including a solenoid for producing relative movement between said toothed members in a direction to engage said toothed members, and means including mechanism responsive to said relative movement between said toothed members for automatically increasing the ampere turns of said solenoid upon relative movement between said toothed members in a direction to engage said toothed members.

5. Ida power transmitting device or the like, the combination of engageable and disengageable gears, means including a solenoid for producing relative movement between said gears in a direction to engage said gears, and means includin mechanism responsive to said relative movement between said gears for automatically increasing the ampere turns of said solenoid upon relative movement between said gears in a direction to engage said gears.

6. In a power transmitting device or the like,

the combination of engageable and disengageable relative movement between said gears in a direction to engage said gears, and means including mechanism responsive to said relative movement between said gears for automatically increasing the ampere turns of said solenoid upon relative movement between said gears in a direction to engage said gears coincident with'the initial contact between said gears.

8. In a power transmitting device or the like, the combination of a speed change transmission comprising a plurality of engageable and disengageable gears,'means including a solenoid for producing relative movement between said gears in a direction to engage said gears, and means including mechanism responsive to said relative movement between said gears for automatically increasing the ampere turns of said solenoid upon relative movement between said gears in a direction to engage said gears.

9. In a power transmitting device or the like. the combination of an engageable and disengageable drive connection comprising a slidable member having three normal positions, resilient means for continuously urging said slidable member into the intermediate of said three positions, means including a plurality of solenoids for moving said slidable member into the other of said positions, means for selectively energizing said solenoids, and means including mechanism responsive to the movement of said slidable member for automatically increasing the ampere turns of said solenoids as said slidable member is moved from said intermediate position into one or the other of said other positions.

10. In a power transmitting device or the like, the combination of an engageable and disengageable frictional clutch comprising a slidable member, means including a solenoid for moving saidslidable member to engage said frictional clutch, and means including mechanism responsive to the movement of said slidable member for automatically increasing the ampere turns of said solenoid as said slidable member is moved in a direction to engage said clutch.

11. In a machine tool or the like, the combination of a frame, a pendant control station supported by said frame, a tool supporting member, a work supporting member, means for movably supporting one of said members on said frame for movement relative to said frame, power means including an engageable and disengageable drive connection comprising a slidable member for moving said movable supported member relative to said frame, means including a solenoid for moving said slidable member to engage said drive connection, manually operable means on said pendant control station for energizing said solenoid, and means including mechanism responsive to the movement of said slidable member for automatically increasing the ampere turns of said solenoid as said slidable member is moved in a direction to engage said drive connection.

KAI-LIB N. STEPHAN. 

